US Vice President Biden in Istanbul for official talks over Syria crisis
by AA
ISTANBULNov 21, 2014 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by AA
Nov 21, 2014 12:00 am
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Istanbul on Friday for official talks with Turkish officials amid strained relations over the Syria crisis.
After his trips to Morocco and Ukraine, Biden met with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu within the framework of a working dinner at the prime ministry office in Besiktas district of the city.
The talks with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will focus on "cooperation in fighting the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the al-Sham in Syria and Iraq; and coping with the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflicts on the other side of Turkey's southern border," a statement from the White House said on Tuesday.
It is Biden's first visit to Turkey since he criticized the country, in a speech at Harvard University on Oct. 2, for inaction against ISIS.
His comments angered Erdogan, who said at the time, "Biden has to apologize for his statements," or become "history to me."
On Oct. 4, the White House released a statement saying, "The vice president apologized for any implication that Turkey or other allies and partners in the region had intentionally supplied or facilitated the growth of ISIS or other violent extremists in Syria."
Biden -- who landed at Ataturk Airport, after his trips to Morocco and Ukraine, along with his wife Jill -- will attend a working dinner with the prime minister at the prime ministry office in Besiktas district of the city.
On Saturday, Biden will attend the sixth annual Energy and Economic Summit hosted by the Atlantic Council in the city, and deliver a speech at the closing session of the summit. Then the vice president is to meet with the "Checks and Balances Network," a group funded by the National Democratic Institute.
He is to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for a working lunch at the Beylerbeyi Palace.
Joe Biden is to leave Turkey for Washington on Sunday after a meeting with Istanbul-based Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world's Eastern Orthodox churches.
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.
You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.